make jibes

wsmike · Joined: 07 Jun 2003 Posts: 412

I was sailing today and realized that 9 times out of 10 when I miss a jibe it is because after I flip the sail, the clew spins around, but then doesnt come far enough around for me to grab it with my new back hand. Its like the wind is blowing perpendicular to my board so that with just the front hand holding the sail, its natural position would be to end up perpendicular to the board as well. This is all fine and good but leaves me with nothing to grab onto and I fall in. Any help on this?

Windlover · Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Posts: 623

Sounds like you may be flipping the sail just a bit early. When you flip too soon, your board is not far enough around for you to easily grab the boom with your back hand. You also need to keep the mast close to your head. You can do this by reaching under your front hand to grab the boom with your new front hand. This keeps the mast close to you. As soon as you let go with the old hand, pull the new hand across your body, thus bringing the mast over the windward rail and the back hand can easily grab the boom.

Timing the sail flip is very important for completing jibes.

harris52 · Joined: 11 May 1998 Posts: 125

This is a very common problem, which if you think about it for a second - should be very clear. The sail is luffing, and no matter what technique you try, it will continue to do so once you let go of the clew. The throw will not help a mistimed flip. The first response is essentially right, youre doing it too soon. But, if you keep carving around instead of trying to grab the sail when its out of reach - the sail will come right back to you, because it will no longer be luffing over your nose.

gh

WindSapien · Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 4:10 pm Post subject: RE: make jibes

Very simple Bro, Head into your turn with maximum velocity,bend your knees, look ahead of your turn,flip sail just before apex of turn , Grab Mast with old back hand,continue to hold steady and sail will come around to you. All you have to do is repeat this process five hundred times.

prev1 · Joined: 06 Jul 2000 Posts: 66

Are you doing planing or non-planing jibes? That is, are you sail steering or steering with your feet? If sailing with your feet, you must not be completing the carve of the board. If you were, the sail would be easy to reach. People often forget to keep steering after flipping the sail (so busy thinking about the sail, etc). Thus, the board is not completing the turn and you cant reach the sail. When you jibe, you initiate the carve with by sliding your back foot to the leward side of the board. Then, in a step jibe, you rotate that same foot so that the heel continues to keep the board turning (after fliping the sail). If you dont drive the board with your heel (by bending your knees, the board will not come through the wind based on its own momentum. Try to focus on that next time your out, if the board completes the carve, the sail will be reachable. Of course, if you find yourself in the position of not being able to reach the boom with your back hand (you have not completed the turn sucessfully), simply move the boom back and tip it slightly to leward and the board will complete the turn and you wont fall in the water, maybe.

I suggest the Alan Caciz tape, since he shows examples of how to correct not so perfect jibes.

tm00 · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 5:40 am Post subject: RE: make jibes

Only 500 for a quick learner. 1,000+ for the rest of us

coachg · Joined: 10 Sep 2000 Posts: 3550

The average athlete takes 10,000 repetions to MASTER a skill. 500? You are GOOOOOD!

CoachG

goltz · Joined: 09 Sep 2000 Posts: 84

10,000 repetitions? If that were true, Id have a perfect golf swing after one round...

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Watch for a message to you containing my jibe tips. If they dont show up, give me your e-mail address and Ill send them directly. They address your question and a few dozen others. The bottom line is that YOU, not the wind, should spin the sail.

Mike \m/

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

Thats particularly funny when you consider that my jipe tips open with Im a world-class expert at jibes. Missing them, that is. When I was trying
to learn to jibe, none of our regular local sailors could jibe, and
extensive travel failed to find good lessons, videos, or magazine tutorials.
Thus I failed what seemed like 10,392 carving jibe attempts . . .

I was closer than I thought . . . and laughed at by the people who claim jibing is a first-season objective these days.

Mike \m/